Scotland is braced for another day of significant travel disruption as a complex mix of yellow weather warnings for wind, rain, snow and ice remains firmly in place across the country.
Widespread Warnings and Road Closures
While an earlier amber alert for snow has been downgraded, the Met Office's yellow warnings still cover the vast majority of Scotland. Wind warnings extend as far north as the Orkney and Shetland Isles. The multi-hazard conditions have led to severe problems on the roads, with Traffic Scotland reporting multiple routes affected by flooding.
The key roads currently facing disruption include:
- The A92 northbound at Portlethen.
- The A77 northbound at Sandyford-Dutch House.
- The A90 Toll of Birness in both directions.
- The A737 eastbound at Lochwinnoch-Howwood.
- The A82 northbound at Dumbuck Quarry.
- The A78 Fairlie in both directions.
Proactive Measures on the A83
A major precautionary operation is underway on the vital A83 at the Rest and Be Thankful. With forecasts predicting up to 60mm of rainfall within 24 hours, which would dangerously increase hillside saturation, traffic is being rerouted onto the Old Military Road local diversion.
Euan Scott, Bear Scotland’s north west representative, explained the decision: "Heavy rainfall is expected throughout Sunday, which will increase saturation levels on the hillside. We have therefore made the decision to utilise the Old Military Road as a proactive safety measure."
He confirmed the diversion keeps Argyll open for business, adding only around 20 minutes to journey times. A decision on returning traffic to the main A83 trunk road will be made by midday on Monday 12 January, following a hillside inspection and only if weather conditions improve.
Ferry and Rail Services Hit
The disruption extends far beyond the road network. Several ferry services have been cancelled, affecting routes from Oban, Troon, Mallaig, Ullapool and Largs.
Rail travellers are also facing problems. ScotRail has reported disruption due to flooding on the line near Barrhill, impacting services between Ayr and Stranraer. Mark Ilderton, ScotRail's service delivery director, urged passengers to check their full journey before travelling via the ScotRail website or app, as speed restrictions may be in force.
The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) has issued a flood warning for the Churchill Barriers causeway area in Orkney and has nine less severe flood alerts active across other parts of the country.
Government and Emergency Response
The severe conditions prompted a meeting of the Scottish Government’s Resilience Room (SGoRR) on Saturday. The group, attended by the First Minister and chaired by Justice and Home Affairs Secretary Angela Constance, was warned of a "multi-hazard" weekend.
Ms Constance stated: "We are facing a complicated multi-hazard event, affecting various parts of the country in different ways and at different times." She praised the work of frontline responders and urged the public to follow advice from the Met Office, Sepa and Police Scotland.
Assistant Chief Constable Alan Waddell of Police Scotland echoed the call for community vigilance, encouraging people to check on neighbours or relatives where it is safe to do so. The north and north-east have already endured several days of snowfall, ice and sub-zero temperatures, leading to school closures and previous travel chaos.
With the volatile weather set to continue, authorities across Scotland are advising everyone to plan ahead, stay informed on the latest warnings, and avoid unnecessary travel where possible.
